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Marshall University is partnering with the Center for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Kentucky (UK) to present a one-day conference, “Appalachian Health Summit – Neurological Disorders: Quality of Life and Potential for Recovery,” on Thursday, March 29, at the Lexington Convention Center.

According to Dr. Richard M. Niles, senior associate dean for research and graduate education at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, a number of university researchers, including faculty, students and medical school residents, will present their work at the conference, while others will participate in the conference’s scientific sessions.

“This summit is an excellent opportunity for our faculty and students to share their work with colleagues from other institutions around the region,” he said. “We have at least eight Marshall researchers who will be traveling to Lexington to present the results of their studies in a variety of areas, including cancer and chemotherapy, endometriosis, diabetes and drug development.”

Niles said that although the summit is a scientific-based conference targeted at faculty and research personnel, anyone interested in improving the health status of citizens across the region is encouraged to attend the free program. He added that there will also be representatives from government agencies, private foundations and community organizations.

The summit will feature a keynote address by Dr. V. Reggie Edgerton, distinguished professor, Departments of Integrative Biology and Physiology, Neurobiology and Neurosurgery at the University of California, Los Angeles. Other sessions will focus on therapies for stroke; chronic pain and substance abuse; new paradigms in drug delivery and development; quality of life following neurotrauma; risk-related behaviors; and research funding opportunities from the U.S. Department of Defense.

The summit is a program of the Appalachian Translational Research Network, whose mission is to enhance research collaborations among partner institutions, and to establish a platform for interaction and sharing best practices among academic institutions, healthcare providers and community organizations.

In addition to Marshall and UK, network partners include the Appalachian Regional Commission, Morehead State University, Ohio University, Ohio State University, University of Pikeville, University of Cincinnati, and the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

Marshall and UK also are partnering as part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutional Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program aimed at speeding the time for laboratory discoveries to benefit patients. The funding supports scientists in Marshall’s clinical research program, training fellowships and early stage clinical research trials.